litigation

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌli-tə-ˈgā-shən 

plural litigations

: the act, process, or practice of settling a dispute in a court of law : the act or process of litigating

an issue that has been in litigation for years

an attorney who specializes in the litigation of property disputes

The American Judicial System generally limits the filing of lawsuits to individuals with a personal stake in the litigation, but there are instances when litigants cannot themselves prosecute an action.

—Jonathan Mahler

also : a legal action or proceeding (such as a lawsuit)

"You can't realize how much it costs to run one of these litigations. To get a battery of lawyers into a courtroom and do all the planning … and so on costs $500,000."

—Gordon Gould

Examples of litigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before the exemptions, San Diego’s ban was delayed three years by litigation from restaurants and container companies. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

The Biden administration has considered litigation, but doesn’t want to further escalate conflict, according to NBC News. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024

Last month, the National Association of Realtors announced a settlement that would resolve nationwide litigation over claims from home sellers related to broker commissions. —Tim Hur, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

The Senate sponsor of the bill, which has been held up by litigation since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law last year, said the measure targets abortions after six weeks of pregnancy because that’s when the embryo has a heartbeat. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

During his sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Mersch said that defending himself in the criminal and civil litigation has devastated his retirement savings and reputation. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024

David Boyd, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, describes the country as a front line for litigation using innovative rights arguments to fight climate change. —Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Successful litigation against a government is generally found in stopping a legislation, not forcing them to enact a legislation. —Jon McGowan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

With that trial date looming, many of the defendants named in the case are currently asking to be dismissed from the litigation. —Bill Donahue, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing litigation

• in litigation